US to Confederation Cup Semi's?

[ATWizJr]

That was John Harkes, former player.

You are right, but, I'd feel better about it if he had said it publicly pre-game. 

I think you'd be hard put to read any story anywhere that predicted a US win.  Glad they did, tho.  Although, it will probably have the effect of the coach retaining his job.  Not sure he shouldn't be replaced.

[muwarrior87]

He should be based on the performances he's gotten out of the squad recently but win or lose the game against Spain, he wasn't going to lose his position.  I personally will like to see the lineup he puts out there now that his son is disqualified for the final after picking up that weak red card. I really don't think Michael Bradley should be getting minutes of Benny Fielhaber in the first place.

[copious1218]

So who is everyone cheering for today: Brazil or South Africa?

I for one want to see another game against Brazil, both because we lost handily and because it will likely be better preparation moving forward.  But an argument can be made for playing S. Africa on their turf as well.

[ATWizJr]

A loss against Brazil in a game where we play well will be better preparation than any result agasint the host team.  And a win against Brazil would be even better.

[MU_all_over]

An amazing win for the US! I'm still in shock, definitely one of the more memorable US games ever.

I'm still not sure if Bradley deserves to be coach. At least he finally came to his senses and used Demerit in the center and Bocanegra on the left. That is the backline I want to see in 2010. So far in this tournament Spector and Demerit have made the biggest impressions on me. They deserve to be out there.

While I would like to play S. Africa in the final and have a great chance of winning the whole thing, a final against Brazil would be much more meaningful in terms of preparation and the chance to knock off another big name.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

Amazing game!
Demerit and Spector plus Odunwalye gave the defense a great effort. Dempsey moving up seems to give  the scoring chances they need. I like the creativity felhaber brings to the game when he is in. He created a chance on the second goal with his confident moves.

[pillardean]

He should be based on the performances he's gotten out of the squad recently but win or lose the game against Spain, he wasn't going to lose his position.  I personally will like to see the lineup he puts out there now that his son is disqualified for the final after picking up that weak red card. I really don't think Michael Bradley should be getting minutes of Benny Fielhaber in the first place.

I really don't have a problem with Bradley out there, he's solid and young.  He gets a little too carried away on some challenges and overruns when he marks up.  But in the middle on the offensive end you can see that players look for him in space to settle the ball and start an attack.  

I for one am not sold on Ricardo Clark, he was not impressive in the game against Spain.  Dempsey plays lazily in the middle, IMO, with lazy balls and a lack of creativity he is capable of when up front.

But I agree Fielhaber should be on the field more than in the past few games.  Incredible poise on that second goal, great ball to Landon (which I thought he should have put on goal, but it worked out with Dempsey getting to a dangerous spot on the pitch and capitalizing on a mistake).  

I would love to see the U.S. take on Brazil again.  Much better matchup for a final to see where we really are heading into 2010.  Either way, the last two games shows what the U.S. is capable of.  Oh, one last thing, Howard, DeMerit and Onyewu were spectacular in the back against Spain.  We need that to win matches against elite competition with superior technique and ability.

[leftcoast warrior]

This is definitely a good win for the US...maybe not deservedly so but none the less a good result.  Showed that the team is willing to put the work in to get a result which is encouraging especially after the first two games.  I really liked our back line that game and although we basically defended from about 25 yards out from our goal, the strategy of forcing them wide only to cross it into the box where we have two big center backs that are strong in the air was good. 

This win is not proof that the US is a world power...actually far from it...I'm also still not sold on B. Bradley and would actually like to see Klinsmann in there running the team.  Bradley was one game away from being canned and now because of some miracle that happened, people are suddenly praising him.  Offensively we have a long way to go but with the continued improvement offensively of Altidore (only 19) and Felhaber...i'm optimistic.   

[pillardean]

U.S. vs. Brasil

I'm very excited.

Impressive game from RSA though.  Didn't expect that.
It'll be interesting which team shows up for the U.S.  I would think they would come out with energy and pace like against Spain and Egypt. 

Anybody going anywhere to watch the game in the Milwaukee are?

[ATWizJr]

Was hoping the game would go to extra time for our sake.  Should be a very interesting match on Sunday. 

[Skatastrophy]

Anybody going anywhere to watch the game in the Milwaukee are?

Yep.  We're throwing a bash at the Sin Bin (a Rugby bar on 38th and National) to watch the both the US v Brazil game and the Brewers game since they both start at 1pm Sunday.  It should be a great time

[MUfan12]

I'll be at The Highbury in Bay View. Should be a great crowd!

[reinko]

Hey Skat, I'm looking forward to being at the Bin.  I'm a friend of Crispy's flying in from the East Coast.  Should be there bright and early for the No Ticket Tailgate!

[ChicosBailBonds]

In high school I played against Eric Wynalda and Cobi Jones on the pitch.  It was great.  We were very good, made it to CIF final four my junior year at St. Bonaventure.  My senior we were ranked top 10 in the state taking on Wynalda's team in Westlake High School.  We were ROUTED 7-1.  Incredible how good Wynalda was.  He went on to play in the World Cup and had a decent career.  Cobi Jones was a Sophomore on that team....can you imagine a high school team with TWO World cup players on it....wow were they good.  Incredible talent.

In watching this year's team, strange personality to it.  After the first two games, I didn't think they would ever be at this point in a million years.  Good for them.

[pillardean]

In high school I played against Eric Wynalda and Cobi Jones on the pitch. 

That is cool!  Did Cobi have the hair back then? 

I remember watching him as a kid and he was the most impersonated player when we would go and play at the fields.

I usually was Taffarel-not sure why, Friedel wasn't aweful.

[ChicosBailBonds]

That is cool!  Did Cobi have the hair back then? 

I remember watching him as a kid and he was the most impersonated player when we would go and play at the fields.

I usually was Taffarel-not sure why, Friedel wasn't aweful.

I honestly don't remember, Cobi wasn't even a top 3 player on that team (Wally Androski was on that team and a load as well with a few others).  I played left midfield and was pretty good (All-League 2nd team) and I had a helluva a time just trying get back on defense and help out.  We couldn't get anything going, it was brutal.  I've never been in a game where we were as good as we were and still got so totally outclassed.  It ruined our season quite frankly.  We were so shell shocked after that game that it tooks us several weeks to get out of the funk.  We went from a Final Four team my junior year to an also ran my senior year.  Major bummer.

It wasn't until a few years later we realized how damn good that Westlake team was as players were popping up on the national team all over the place.

[spiral97]

I honestly had not been following this series but after reading this thread I'm interested in watching the next game.  Looked it up and found out it's the championship game and on in 45 minutes (6/28 1pm CST) on ESPN/ESPNHD.  Just an FYI for anyone else who has had their curiosity piqued.

USA will be playing Brazil.  Spain edged South Africa 3:2 to claim 3rd place.

Looks like the official site for this is: http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/index.html

[gjreda]

What a start for the US!  Beautiful run by Donovan and Davies.

[ChicosBailBonds]

What a start for the US!  Beautiful run by Donovan and Davies.

What a terrible second half.  As soon as Brazil scored in the beginning of the 2nd half I knew the US would blow this game.  Frustrating.

[MU B2002]

On a related note to the USMNT...

I watched the LA - Hou MLS match last night, due to my Streak for Cash pick, and it was the first time I had watched any MLS teams play.  Wow.  After watching a lot of the Confed cup recently the MLS looked like a pick up game.  Bad passes, sloppy play, and no real rhythm.  Is this typical for a MLS match?  And is one of the many reasons why Soccer's popularity struggles to grow in the US?

[pillardean]

On a related note to the USMNT...

I watched the LA - Hou MLS match last night, due to my Streak for Cash pick, and it was the first time I had watched any MLS teams play.  Wow.  After watching a lot of the Confed cup recently the MLS looked like a pick up game.  Bad passes, sloppy play, and no real rhythm.  Is this typical for a MLS match?  And is one of the many reasons why Soccer's popularity struggles to grow in the US?

The games are not that good.   Occasionally you'll have a decent game, but more often than not it will be like the one you saw.  That is one of the reason's why soccer hasn't become popular, football is the main reason though.  The marketability and the mentality of football suits most Americans better than the patience of a match (I do watch football as well).

Most of the better young talent go overseas to play.  If not, they should.  In order for them to work on their technical game and learn to be better, U.S. born players need to go over sees.  Which also shows why MLS isn't what it could be because all the in nation talent leaves and no high leveled players come in unless they want to retire and can't get a contract with the elite leagues of the world.